Display stand



G. HIGER Oct. 15, 1968 D I SPLAY STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1966 INVENTOR.

GERALD HIGER HAUKE, KRASS 9| GIFFORD G. HIGER Oct. 15, 1968 DISPLAY STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1966 Fla-3 AAI F-IG- 4 INVENTOR. GERALD HIGER HAUKE, KRASS 8x GIFFORD United States Patent 3,405,985 DISPLAY STAND Gerald I-Iiger, Southfield, Mich., assignor to Grolier Incorporated, Oak Park, Mich a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 574,205 4 Claims. (Cl. 312-114) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display stand is supported on a pair of spaced, vertical legs and a generally rectangular box-like receptacle having a sloped upper surface is disposed between the legs at about waist height. A vertically aligned panel having a central opening therein is fixed to the upper end of the legs above the receptacle. A display rack is supported in the opening and is protected on its forward side by a transparent shield. A rearwardly extending enclosure section is built around the rack at the back of the opening and allows merchandise to be inserted therein.

The present invention relates to display stands and more specifically to a self supporting stand having a substantially vertical panel member provided an aperture and including a transparent enclosure attractively displaying an article of merchandise suspended in the aperture.

Modern merchandisers are aware that a dependent factor in the successful marketing of goods lies in the attractive packaging and exhibition of the goods to potential buyers. The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved display stand adapted to prominently exhibit a sample of merchandise in an eye-catching and pleasing manner. It has particular application to those types of goods which are not ordinarily dispensed to the potential buyer at the place the goods are exhibited. A typical article falling within this category are educational materials such as the better quality encyclopedias which are displayed in public places such as supermarkets for the purpose of obtaining inquiries for additional infor mation from potential consumers.

The present invention which will subsequently be described in detail has a frame comprising a pair of spaced apart substantially vertical leg members each having a normally extending foot member joined to their lower ends to provide a firm self supporting engagement with a supporting surface. A horizontal brace member joins the two legs at their mid-section and provides stability to the stand.

A box-like receptacle is supported between the upper ends of the legs and has a sloping flat upper surface suitable for writing. Preferably a pair of slots are defined in the fiat upper surface for supporting descriptive literature and for receiving written inquiries from interested viewers of the merchandise. The rear wall of the receptacle has a hinged section permitting access to the compartment defined therein.

The legs are preferably formed of tubular construction and each carry at their upper ends an upward extending bushing member. A vertical tubular arm member receives each bushing and provides a detachable upper extension of the leg members.

A panel member is joined to a common side of the arms and is provided with an opening therebetween. A rack is disposed in the opening and is adapted to support the merchandise. The rack preferably has a pair of elongated upwardly extending support elements each of which terminates in a hook section supportably engaged with a fastener provided on the upper end of each of the vertical arms. Thus the merchandise is suspended from the arms.

In order to provide a shield from dust and to add to the eye-catching appearance of the display stand, the mer- 3,405,985 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 chandise and rack are housed in a pair of enclosure sections. A forwardly extending enclosure section is preferably formed of a transparent acrylic resin vacuum formed to present a dished surface and having a peripheral flange which is adapted to be secured by a plurality of bolts to the perimetrical edge of the panel opening.

A rearwardly extending enclosure section, preferably formed of a metallic sheet, has a peripheral flange which is also secured to the edge of the panel opening. The rear enclosure is provided with a hinged section on its rear side which permits access to the interior of the enclosures and the rack disposed therein.

In addition to providing a supporting structure for the enclosures, the panel furnishes a mounting surface for a display sign associated with the merchandise. The display sign is mounted to the panel by a plurality of threaded fasteners which are adapted to permit a quick and easy removal in order to accommodate a new presentation.

The simplicity of the elements comprising the preferred embodiment of the present invention makes it easy to assemble and disassemble. Furthermore, the configuration of the elements provide an attractive sturdy display stand for prominently exhibiting the merchandise.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to simplify the construction of self-supporting display stands by providing such a stand comprising a frame formed of a pair of vertical spaced apart leg members, each having an upward extending detachable arm member, a panel joined to the arm members and having an opening in which the merchandise is disposed, and an enclosure substantially surrounding the merchandise and at least part of which is formed of a transparent material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved display stand adapted to exhibit a relatively heavy article of merchandise in a transparent enclosure by providing a rigid self-supporting frame having a substantially vertical panel and wherein the merchandise is suspended from the frame in a pair of enclosure sections secured to the panel, and at least one of the enclosure sections formed of a transparent material.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved ground supported display stand comprising a frame supporting an enclosed article of merchandise and including a receptacle having a writing surface adapted to assist viewers of the merchandise to submit written inquiries concerning the goods.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a display stand illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the display stand illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view as seen from line 33 of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a view as seen from line 4-4 of FIG- URE 1.

Now referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, a preferred display stand cmoprises a pair of substantially vertical spaced apart leg members 10 and 12 joined at their mid-sections by a brace 14. Each leg is supported at its lower end by a foot member 16 formed of a narrow metal strap into a generally U-shaped configuration with a bight portion abutting the end of the leg and with the free ends joined to the legs as shown. The bight of the foot members 16 includes a straight portion 18 terminating at opposite ends with a rounded bent section adapted to space the ends of the legs 16 from the supporting surface.

As can best be seen in FIGURE 4, a receptacle generally indicated at 22 is secured to the upper ends of the legs by threaded fasteners 24. The receptacle 22 is spaced from the legs by spacers 26 carried by fasteners 24. The receptacle 22 comprises a rectangular bottom element 27 having a peripheral flange joined to normally extending side members 28. The side members terminate upwardly in a frame member 30 preferably having an extruded crosssection. The frame member 30 carries a generally flat panel member 32 having a flat upper surface suitable for writing.

The sides 28 of the receptacle have upper edges joined to support the frame 30 at a slightly inclined disposition. A partition element 34 is fixed within the compartment defined by the receptacle. As can best be seen in FIG- URE 2, the rear of the receptacle pivotably carries a lid 36 which may be moved upwardly to define an article receiving compartment or opened as shown to permit access to the interior of the receptacle 22. An aperture 38 formed in the lid 36 registers with a staple 40 fixed to the rear edge of the partition 34 and assists in maintaining the lid in a closed position.

As can be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the writing panel 32 is provided with a rectangular aperture 42 adapted to support descriptive materials and a second aperture 44 for receiving written inquiries relating to the displayed merchandise.

The legs 10 and 12 preferably have a tubular structure and each carry a bushing or insert 46 which extends beyond their upper end as can be seen in FIGURE 4. The inserts 46 are fixed to the legs by the threaded fasteners 24.

An arm member 48 having a bore adapted to closely fit the insert 46 is slidably carried on each of the inserts 46 and seated on the upper end of the legs. The arms 48 have a slight bend as at 50 such that upper ends approach one another.

Now, as can best be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, a rectangular panel member 52 is secured to a common side of the arms 48 by elongated threaded fasteners 54. The upper edge and sides of panel 52 preferably extend beyond the arms 48.

The panel 52 has a preferably rectangular opening 56 formed between the arm members 48 as can be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. Suspended from the upper ends of the arms 48 is a rack 58 having a pair of elongated upward extending end elements 60. The end elements 60 are joined to opposite sides of the rack 58 and terminate upwardly in a hook section 62 which engages threaded fastener 54. The elements 60 are of a length suflicient to permit the rack 58 to be disposed in the panel opening 56, and of a gage sufiicient to support the weight of the merchandise. The rack, although shown as formed of rod elements, may take a form best suited for retaining the particular merchandise. The rack 58, illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, is adapted to support a book (not shown) for purposes of description.

A generally dished shaped enclosure section 64 having a periphery corresponding to the perimeter of the panel opening 56 extends through the opening and forward of the panel 52 as can best be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. The enclosure 64 has a peripheral flange 66 which abuts the rear perimetrical edge of the opening 54. The enclosure section 64 is preferably vacuum formed from a transparent plastic material such as an acrylic resin to permit visual observation of the merchandise disposed in the rack 58.

An enclosure section 68 preferably formed of an aluminum sheet into a rectangular cross section corresponding to the cross-section of the enclosure section 64 extends rearwardly of the opening 56. The enclosure 68 has a peripheral flange 70 corresponding to the flange 66 of the transparent enclosure section. The flanges 66 and 70 are joined to the panel 52 by a plurality of threaded fasteners 72; however, the upper edges of the flanges are spaced to permit the supporting end elements 60 of the rack to extend therethrough.

The rear enclosure section 68 carries a pivotably connected lid 74 which may be lowered to define a substantially closed compartment or raised to permit access to the rack 58.

FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate how a display sign 76 may be mounted on the front of the panel 52 and shaped to fit around the transparent enclosure section 64 as shown.

The display sign 76 is preferably fastened to the panel 52 by four threaded fasteners 78 which permit the sign to be quickly assembled or replaced.

Now it will be understood that an improved display stand has been described in which an article of merchandise is attractively exhibited in a transparent enclosure. The preferred stand also includes a container for receiving written inquiries from potentially interested consumers regarding the merchandise. The stand is formed of a relatively few components adapted for easy assembly into a sturdy self-supporting stand and which normally are separated into two sections for purposes of transit by separating the arms 48 from the legs 10 and 12.

Having described my invention in its simplest terms, it is to be understood that the features of the construction may be changed and varied in greater or lesser degree without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A display stand for displaying an article of commerce, comprising:

(a) a base including a pair of upright spaced apart elongated leg members and an arm member supportably connected to the upper end of each of said leg members and forming an upward extension thereof;

(b) a panel member supportably connected to said base and defining an opening therebetween',

(c) a carrier structure associated with said panel and adapted to receive an article disposed within the perimeter of said panel opening, said carrier structure being suspended from said arm members and disposed in said panel opening; and

(d) a first and a second enclosure section disposed on opposite sides of said panel opening and connected to said panel member, and at least one of said enclosure sections formed of a transparent material.

2. A display stand as defined in claim 1, wherein said arm members are releasably connected to said leg members.

3. A display stand as defined in claim 1, including a receptacle supported between said leg members and having an upper section defining a substantially flat upper surface having at least one aperture adapted to receive a relatively thin article.

4. A display stand as defined in claim 3, wherein said container has an end section pivotably connected to said container and movable between a closed position wherein said movable section cooperates with said container to form an article receiving compartment and an open position wherein said movable section permits access to said compartment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,793,050 2/1931 Brunhoff 312-l 14 2,618,884 11/1952 Low 312-242 2,871,081 1/1959 Green et a1 312-114 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

